Fire-extinguisher



A. L. COLE.

FIRE EXHNGUlSHER.

APPLICATION men JUNE 22. 1914 Patented May 18, 1920.

zzi l ALBERT L. COLE,

or AUBURNDYALE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 22,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT L. Gone, a citizenof the United States, residing at Auburndale, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin F ire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tire extinguishers and particularly toportable devices of that character and isan improvement of the broadinvention shown and described in a prior application filed by meFebruary 6, 1914, Serial No. 817,042.

The object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher of thecharacter described which can be used, either with the nozzle elevatedor depressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device from which,under certain circumstances, a continuous stream of ex tinguishing fluidmay be secured without requiring the device to be operated continuously.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device so constructedthat the cc tents cannot evaporate when the device 18 not in use.

- Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth andexplained hereinafter.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention,Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a fire extinguisherconstructed and operated in accordance therewith; Fig. 2 is across-sectional view on line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview on line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 44 inFig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 55 in Fig. 1.

In the drawings illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance withmy invention 10 designates a casing, preferably cylindrical in form,provided with a rounded end 11 having a centrally disposed nozzle 12.This may be termed the nozzle end of the apparatus. At the other end thecasingis' closed by a cap 13 having on one side an extension 14 thelongitudinal axis of which may be parallel to the longitudinal axis ofPatented May 18, 1920. 1914. Serial No. 846,445.

the casing. The interior of the casing and of the extension forms achamber 15 for fire extinguishing fluid. The form and construction ofthe casing and extension may be varied if desired.

Within the casing is centrally located a tube 16 which constitutes thebody-portion of a pump or air compressor, this tube ex tending nearly tothe nozzle end of the casing and having its outer end projecting throughthe cap 13 and secured thereto. The latter end of the tube is closed bya cap 17 having a central hole to receive a rod 18 of a piston 19 withinthe tube 16. The end of the piston rod 18 is provided with a handle 20.

The piston 19 may be made of any suitable material but I have found thatcork gives better satisfaction because it is not corroded or otherwiseaffected by the extinguishing fluid and since it is flexible andcompressible the pump will not leak after wear and evaporation oftheextinguishing fluid is prevented.

At its innermost end the air compressor is provided with an inlet valve21 located in a tube 22 extending from the compressor out through theside of the casing to permit air to be drawn from the atmosphere intothe compressor when the piston is drawn outwardly.

Thecompressor is also provided with an utlet valve 23 which controls theflow of com ressed fluid from the compressor into a tu e or pipe 24which may be termed a reservoir since it permits of storage of air undercompression. At the other end the reservoir 24 is connected to a pipe 25leading to the nozzle end of the casing, and the flow of air from thereservoir into the pipe 25 is controlled by a valve 26. The valves 23and .26 may be of any suitable form but as shown, are similar to thevalve 21; that is, an ordinary ball valve construction. The valve 23permits air to flovtfrom the compressor into the'reservoir but preventsany flow in the reverse direction and likewise the valve 26 admits airfrom the reservoir into the pipe 25 back from the said 1pc.

That end of the pipe 25 at the nozzle end of the casing is curved aroundand enters and prevents air flowing the enlar mouth 27 of another pipe28 which lea to the extension 14 as shown in Fig. 1. The end of the pipe25 may be supported centrall within the pipe 28 by a spider 29 (see 'g.4 which permits air or other'fluid to flow t rough t e pipe 28 in eitherdirection and around the pi e 25. That end of the pipe 28 located at t 0ex tension 14 is 0 en and is directed so that any fluid disc argedtherefrom will be ejected into the chamber of the extension.

The extension 14 is divided by a transverse partition 30 so that a smallchamber 31 is formed in the end of the extension. pipe 32 connects thischamber with the nozzle 12, one end of the pipe passing through thepartition and opening into the chamber and the other end being connectedto the nozzle so that all fluid which passes out of the nozzle must comeinto the chamber 31. The partition 30 is provided with an 0 ening 33through which fluid may pass rorn the chamber 15 to chamber 31 and thisopening is controlled by a screw valve 34 having a hand wheel 35 on itsouter end so that it may be operated from outside the extension. Toprevent leakage the valve is threaded through a gland 36 in a stuffingbox 37 containing packing 38.

An opening 39 closed by a cap 40 is provided through which opening thecasing may be loaded with fire extinguishing fluid which fills thechamber 15 both in the casing and the extension.

In order to lock the handle 20 inthe position shown in Fig. 1, the cap17 on the compressor is formed with a hollow dome 41 having an opening42 which allows two lateral lugs 43 on the piston rodto enter the domewhen the rod is pushed inwardly to the end of its stroke. If the rod isthen turned a quarter revolution the lugs engage the top of the dome andcannotbe with-' drawn and the piston rod is locked, in place. In Fig. 5the rod is shown in a locked position.

This construction serves two' purposes. In the first place it enablesthe device to be suspended on a hook or otherwise by the handle and inthe second place, the piston is. locked in a position where it coversthe inlet and outlet valves in the compressor. This second result is ofgreat importance in a fire extinguishing device because it prevents anyevaporation of the extinguishing fluid through the compressor.

Heretofore in devices of this character, great difl'iculty has beenexperienced in preventing evaporation of the contents of the devicethrough the com ressor. It is well known, that most of the t fireextinguishing fluids are extremely volatile and where the device is usedonly at rare intervals, as is nerally the case, the .fluid willevaporate entirely unless it is absolutely scaled up.

. object In most devices it is impossible of- 40 is removed and isfilled with any suitable fire extinguls ing fluid until the chamber 15both in the casing and extension is completel filled. The valve 34 maybe opened and t e chamber 31 also filled and to -a certain extent thepipe 32. When completely loaded the cap 40 is replaced and screwed downtightly to prevent evaporation and the valve 34 is seated closing theopening 33. When so filled the device is hung up in some convenient lacewhere it is easily accessible in case 0 fire. The piston is locked asshown in Fig. 1 so that the contents cannot evaporate even if theextinguisher re mains unused fora long period.

In operation the dpiston is first unlocked by turning the ban le aquarter revolution to release the lugs 43 from the dome 41 of the cap 17and the compressor is operated in the usual manner by reciprocating thepiston. When the latter is on the outward stroke, air is drawn into thecom ressor 16 through the inlet valve 21 and on t e inward stroke theinlet valve is closed and the air compressed and forced, into the pipe24. Wherr the casing is full of extinguishing fluid a considerablepressure ma thus be generated in the pipes 24, 25, an chamber 10, and ifthe valve 34 be then unseated by turning the wheel 35, the air pressurewill then cause thefluid to flow into the chamber 31 and thence outthrough the pipe 32 and nozzle 12. In this connection it will be noticedthat the passage in the nozzle is so formed that the stream therefrom isdirected downwardlwhen the extinguisher is held as shown in ig. 1 withthe lateral extension 14 in a lowermost position. The of thisconstruction is to force the operator to hold the device with thelateral extension in the position shown and with the nozzle end slightlyelevated as in that position the device can be used more effectively andto the greatest advantage. If the operator by any possibility shouldattempt to use the device with the lateral extension in an uppermostposition, the stream will be thrown from the nozzle up in the air andthereupon he will naturally reverse its position.

When the valve 34 is the operation of the extinguisher depends to somedegree upon whether the nozzle end is depressed or elevated; that is,when the nozzle be forced out through the pipe 32 and nozzle in a streamwhich continues so lon as the pressure remains above atmosphericpressure. As the liquid is forced out through the nozzle the expandingair passes out the curved, end of the pipe 25 and accumulates in thenozzle end of the casing. As the pressure gradually falls it may beincreased by again operatin the compressor so that a steady andcontinuous stream from the nozzle 12 may be secured. I have found thatby generating suflicient pressure before unseatmg the valve 34 that Ican secure a continuous stream for several minutes without manipulatingthe compressor.

When the nozzle end of the extinguisher is held in a depressed positionand the valve 34 is unseated, the pressure in the reservoir 24 causesthe liquid to be forced out of the nozzle and the expanding air passesout the curved end of the pipe 25 into the pipe 28 passing upwardlythrough that pipe and out into the extension where it accumulates in theextension end of the casing. So long as the level of the fluid in thecontainer remains above the mouth of the pipe 28 the pressure will causea continuous stream of liquid to be forced through the nozzle, but

when the level falls below the mouth of the V carrying with it in eachcase liquid .which in practically any position. It is under enters thepipe 28 at the nozzle end and this liquid emerges from the pipe 28 intothe extension, flows through the opening 33 in the partition 30 into thechamber 31 and is then forced out through pipe 32 and nozzle. It istherefore necessary when the nozzle is depressed to operate thecompressor continuously and on each, inward stroke of the piston astream of fluid is forced out of the nozzle so that with the nozzledepressed the stream of fluid secured is intermittent and notcontinuous. The pipe 28, therefore, serves as a feed pipe for supplyingfluid to the extension and closed chamber 31 whenever the extinguisheris held with the nozzle depressed and wherever I use the term feed.

found from experience that with this construction I can practicallydrain all the contents of the casi while holding the nozzle anddepressed so t at my device can be used stood, of course, that in theuse of my device the casing is held with the lateral extension 14 in alowermost position.

It is to be observed that by providing a device which is capable of usewith the nozzle either depressed or elevated I have secured importantresults and the device is capable of use under all circumstances forputting out afire either above or below the operator.

Although my invention is intended to be applied primarily to fire extinishers, yet the device may be used neral y for spraying liquids forniany di erent purposes and in this connection various forms of nozzlesmay be used. Owing to its compactness the device is easily handled andits simplicity of operation enables it to be used efiiciently by anyonewithout previous experience. Va nous changes may be made in theconstruction of the device without departing from my invention, such,for instance, as incorporating the closed chamber and valve within thecasing itself at the handle end and thereby doing away with theextension.

It is to be understood that my invention may be embodied in forms ofconstruction other than that herein shown and described and I desire toclaim the invention broadly except where specifically limited in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:-

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a hollow casing havin a nozzle and alateral extension provide with a closed chamber communicating with theinterior of said extension through an opening, a valve controlling saidopening, a pipe within said casing connecting said closedchamber withsaid nozzle, and means for forcing liquid from the interior of saidcasin into said closed chamber and out throng said pipe and nozzle.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a hollow casing having a nozzle and alateral extension provided with a closed chamber communicating with theinterior of said extension through an opening, a valve controlling saidopening, a pipe within said casin connecting said closed chamber withsai nozzle and means for forcing liquid from the interior of said easinginto said closed cham her and thence out through said pipe and nozzle.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising a hollow casing havinga nozzle anda'lateral extension having a closed chamber in its end provided with anopening communicating with the interior of said extension, a valvecontrolling said opening, a pi e within said casing connecting saidclose chamber with said nozzle, an air compressor and means whereby air'untler compression is utilized for forcing liquid from the interior ofsaid easing into said closed chamber when said valve is open and thenceout through said pipe and nozzle irrespective of thepositionnn whichsaid casing is held.

4. An a paratus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casin having anozzle at one end and a closed 0 amber at the other end provided with anopenin communieating with the interior of said casing a valvecontrolling said opening and operable from outside said casing, apipe-within said casing connecting said closed chamber with said nozzleand means for forcing liquid from the interior of said casing into saidclosed chamber and out through said pipe and nozzle.

5. An apparatus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casing having anozzle at one end and a closed chamber at'the other end provided with anopening communicating with the interior of said casing, a valvecontrolling said opening and o erable from outside said casing, a pipewit in said casing connecting said closed chamber with said nozzle, anair compressor and means whereby air under compression is utilized forforcing liquid from the interior of said easing into said closed chamberwhen said.

valve is open and thence out through said pipe and nozzle.

6. An apparatus for spra ing liquids comprising a hollow casing aving anozzle and a lateral extension provided with a closed chambercommunicatin with the interior of said extension throug an opening, avalve controlling said opening and operable from outside said casing, apipe connecting said closed chamber with said nozzle, an air compressor,a reservoir pipe con-' nected to said compressor for storing air undercompression and a feed pipe for delivering li uid to said closed chamberwhen said valve is open and the apparatus is held with the nozzle enddepressed.

7. An apparatus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casin having anozzle at one end and a closed 0 amber at the other end provided with anopening communicating with the interior of said casing, a valvecontrolling saidbpening and o erable from outside sald casing, a pi witin said casing connecting said cl I c I chamber with said nozzle, an aircompressor and means whereby air unde'r compression is utilized forforcing liquid from the interior of said casin into said closed chamberwhen said valve is open and thence out through said pipeand ing with theinterior of said casing, a valve controlling said opening. and o rablefrom outside said casin a pi wit in said casing connecting sai clo'chamber with said nozzle and an air compressor for forcing liquid fromthe interior of said casing into said closed chamber and out throughsaid pipe and nozzle.

9. An apparatus for spraying liquids comprising a hollow casin having anozzle at one end and a closed 0 amber at the other end provided with anopening communicatmg with the interior of said casing, a valve controlsaid opening and o erable from putside said casin a pi wit in said casmgconnecting sai close chamber with said nozzle and an air compressorhaving an inlet and an outlet valve at the inner end of said compressorin such' osition as to be sealed by the piston of said air com ressorwhensaid piston is locked at the en of its inward stroke.

10. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for the extinguishingsubstance provided with a nozzle atone end and an ofiset separatechamber at the other end adapted to communicate with the interior of thecontainer through an opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pi ewithin the container connecting said c amber with the nozzle, and meansfor forcing the substance from the interior of the container into saidchamber and out through the pipe and nozzle.

11. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for the extinguishingsubstance provided with a nozzle, and an oifset separate chamber adaptedto communicate withthe interior of the container through an opening, avalve controlling said opening, a pipe within the container connectingsaid chamber with the nozzle,and means for forcing the substance fromthe interior of said container into said chamber and out through thepipe and nozzle.

12. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for the extinguishingsubstance provided with a nozzle and an ofiset extension having achamber communicatin with the -1nter1or of the container and a having aseparate chamber adapted to communicats with said first mentionedchamber through opening, a valve controlling said opening, a pipe withinthe container connecting said separate chamber with the nozzle,- andmeans for forcing the substance from the interior of said chambers andthrough the pipe and nozzle.

13. A fire extin isher comprising a container for the extinguishingsubstance provided with a nozzle and a separate chamber adapted tocommunicate with the interior of the container through an opening, avalve controlling said opening, a pipe within the container 'conneet'said chamber with the nozzle, and means or forcing the substance fromthe interior of said container into said chamber and out through thepipe and nozzle, said means comprising a compressed 'air reservoir, andcontrolling means therefor adapted to be opened as an incident to theopening of said valve controlling the opening between theseparatechamber and the interior of the container.

14. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the extinguishing substancehaving a nozzle at one end and a separate chamber at the other end intowhich the substance may be forced from the container, said separatechamber being in communication with the nozzle and having a valvedopening afi'ording communication between the chamber and the container,means for causing the feeding of the substance from eitherend of thecontainer to the separate chamber dependent upon the position of theextinguisher comprising a pipe open at its oppo site ends near thecorresponding opposite ends of the container, and compressed air meansfor forcing the substance from whichever end of the container islowermost to the said separate chamber and thence out of said nozzle.

15. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the extinguishing substancehaving a nozzle and a separate chamber into whic the substance may beforced from the container, said separate chamber being in communicationwith the nozzle and having a valved opening affording communicationbetween the chamber and the container, means for causing the feeding ofthe substance from either end of the container to the separate chamberdependent upon the position of the extinguisher comprising a pipe openat its opposite ends near the corres onding opposite ends of thecontainer, an compressed air means associated with said pipe to forcethe substance from one end of the container to the separate chamber orto carry the substance from the opposite endof the con tainer throughthe pipe to a oint adjacent the said separate 0 amber, t e compressedair means includin a pipe entering one end of said open-ende pipe tooperate as an injector.

16. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the extinguishin substancehavin a nozzle and a separate 0 amber into whic the substance may beforced from the container, said se arate chamber be' in communicationw1th the nozzle and aving a valved opening affording communicationbetween the chamber and the container, means for.

causing the feeding of the substance from either end of the container tothe separate chamber dependent upon the position of the extinguishercomprising a pipe open at its opposite ends near the correspondingopposite ends of the container, compressed air 'means associated withsaid pipe to force the substance from one end of the container to theseparate chamber or to carry the substance from the opposite end of thecontainer through the pipe to a oint adjacent the said separate c amber,t e compressed air means including a pipe entering one end of saidopen-ended pipe to operate as an injector, and a compressed airreservoir connected to the opposite end of said injector pipe havingcontrolling means adapted to be released as an incident to the openingof the valve of the separate chamber.

17. In a fire extin uisher, a container for the extinguishin su stancehavi a nozzle and a separate c amber into whic the substance may beforced from the container, said separate chamber bein in communicationwith the nozzle and fiaving a valved opening affording communicationbetween the chamber and the container, means for causing the feeding ofthe substance from either end of the container to the separate chamberdependent upon the position of the extinguisher comprising a pipe openat its opposite ends near the corresponding opposite ends of thecontainer, means associated with said pipe to force the substance fromone end of the container to the separate chamber or to carry thesubstance from the opposite end of the container through the ipe to apoint adjacent the said separate c amber, the compressed air meansincluding a pipe entering one end of said open-ended pipe to operate asan injector, and a compressed air reservoir connected to the oppositeend of said injector pipe having controlling means adapted to bereleased as an incident to the opening of the valve of the separatechamber, in combination with a pump carried by the device for feedingand compressing air in the said reservoir.

18. In a fire extinguisher, a container for the fire extinguishingsubstance having a discharge nozzle and controlling means for thedischarge, means for forcing the extinguishing substance into a positionto be received by and discharged through the nozzle, the same includinga pipe opening at its opposite ends near corresponding opposite ends ofthe container, and compressed air means for injectin a jet of air intoone end of said pi e to raw the fire extinguishing1 compoun from thatend of the device w en the same occupies a relatively low position andto force the ex tin 'shing compound from the opposite on of thecontainer when that end occupies a relatively low position.

19. In a fire exti isher, a container for fire extinguishi su stancehaving a lateral chamber, one en of the same communicating with theinterior of the container, a nozzle, a valve for controlling the flow offire extinguishin substance from said lateral chamber t rough saidnozzle and means for forcing the fire extinguishing substance fromeither end of the container into compressed air said lateral chamberincluding a pipe open- In testimony whereof I hereunto set my ing at itsopposite ends and arranged near hand in the presence of two subscribingwit- 10 the correspond'iln opposite eggs to: the1 colrllnesses, this thetwentieth day of June, 1914. tainer one en mg 11'60 war e 5 lateraichamber in the passage between the v ALBERT COLE same and the container,and com ressed air Witnessesr means having a part entering t e remote F.J. V. Damn, open end of said plpe to act as an injector. E. F. UNI-A0;

